Closing summary
This blog will be coming to a close, but you can keep following out UK politics coverage here. Here is a summary of today’s events.
Last night, Peter Mandelson has said he has resigned his membership of the Labour party to avoid causing it “further embarrassment” after more revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. This comes after Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador last year because of his links to Epstein, featured in documents released by the US Department of Justice on Friday related to the convicted sex offender.
The Lib Dems and the SNP were amongst those who called for Mandelson to be stripped of his peerage. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “It’s time now for the government to take immediate action by bringing forward legislation to strip Peter Mandelson of his peerage. It is the very least they can do for the victims and survivors of his friend Jeffrey Epstein. If Mandelson has any shame left he will retire from the House of Lords today while this process gets under way.”
The Labour party revealed that Mandelson was already facing disciplinary action from the party when he announced he was resigning his membership. Labour did not explained what the grounds for disciplinary action against Mandelson were.
Darren Jones called Jeffrey Epstein “a despicable criminal who committed disgusting crimes and destroyed the lives of countless women and girls”. He told MPs that Keir Starmer is “calling on all political parties, including the Conservatives as the largest party in the House of Lords, to work with the government to modernise the disciplinary procedures to allow for removal of peers who have brought the House of Lords into disrepute”.
The Met police has said it will review any reports relating to alleged misconduct in public office, after the release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. The force said it will then decide if it meets the threshold for investigation.
Otherwise, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused prime minister Keir Starmer of being ‘supine and short-termist’ in approach to China. Badenoch said Starmer seemed to enjoy being in China. That is not surprising “for a man who was virtually a communist most of his life”, she said.
Elsewhere, the UK and EU are aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme within months, in time for a joint summit later this year.
Met Police says it will review ‘number’ of reports relating to alleged misconduct in a public office
The Met police has said it will review any reports relating to alleged misconduct in public office, after the release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. The force said it will then decide if it meets the threshold for investigation.
In a statement, commander Ella Marriott said: “We are aware of the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice.
“Following this release and subsequent media reporting, the Met has received a number of reports relating to alleged misconduct in public office. The reports will all be reviewed to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation.
“As with any matter, if new and relevant information is brought to our attention we will assess it, and investigate as appropriate.”
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